variants
also alarum
1
as in dread
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune
observed with alarm the man staggering toward the edge of the cliff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in warning
the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk
in a daring midnight ride Paul Revere gave the alarm that British troops were approaching
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
filled with alarm when the flood waters reached their front steps
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also alarum
1
as in to scare
to strike with fear
I don't want to alarm you, but I think you should know there's a bear on your back porch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to concern
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
alarmed at the skyrocketing cost of home heating fuel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of alarm
Lillian Bonsignore, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Testing of Your Safety Devices Your home’s safety devices, like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and GFCI outlets, are designed to protect without much fuss.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026
Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
This grassroots organization grew out of concern from grandparents across the country, alarmed by declining vaccination rates and the growing influence of misinformation.
—Donna A. Gaffney, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alarm
Noun
Smoke alarms must be present and operational.
—Lillian Bonsignore, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Testing of Your Safety Devices Your home’s safety devices, like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and GFCI outlets, are designed to protect without much fuss.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
But that's not really what alarms me, someone making money off of military advancements.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
This grassroots organization grew out of concern from grandparents across the country, alarmed by declining vaccination rates and the growing influence of misinformation.
—Donna A. Gaffney, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alarm
Noun
-
Other parents expressed disappointment or dread when babies appeared too dark.—
Dorothy Roberts,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But the have-funs and the have-existential-dreads of the hockey community are every bit as clear.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Various weather alerts were issued across the state, including winter storm warnings, coastal flooding advisories, and wind advisories.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Lin echoed those warnings that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would reverberate worldwide.—
Eryk Michael Smith,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That sparked fears that AI tools could eat into existing companies’ business models and customer bases.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have also stoked fear that people who record or otherwise monitor federal immigration operations risk arrest.—
Kristen Taketa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What happened Tuesday should scare away any of the remaining top prospects who would want to play for this berating blowhard.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Some cities in China have banned fireworks out of concerns over safety and air pollution, but the measures are controversial as firecrackers, traditionally used to scare off evil spirits, remain central to Lunar New Year celebrations.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even before revelations about the emails, there were tensions between Wasserman and some Los Angeles politicians concerned that financial shortfalls in staging the $7-billion Summer Games will need to be covered by local taxpayers.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
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Turns out, his son was concerned for the safety of his classmates from Guatemala and Cambodia.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its stock has been under pressure because of worries that competitors powered by artificial intelligence technology could upend its industry and take away customers.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
But the new study—along with previous research—reiterates that worries of weight gain with mango consumption aren’t substantiated.—
Lauren Manaker MS,
Health,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The dueling anxieties have been brewing for months.—
Jeran Wittenstein,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Remember that meaning can vary widely from person to person—for example, a dog can mean safety and loyalty to one person or fear and anxiety to another.—
Lisa Wong Macabasco,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While 21 page-menus might frighten the coach of a position where speed and agility are crucial, these types of moments are exactly how Harris thinks his unit will mesh.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
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That habit didn’t endear the Alspaws to anyone nearby, including one neighbor who threatened to shoot Brittany after the Alspaws frightened his horses.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alarm. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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